In Tilburg, not all costs may be charged to tenants as service charges, particularly in popular districts such as the Spoorzone or Oud-Zuid. Permissible items include the cleaning of communal areas such as entrances in apartment buildings on Korvellaan, lift maintenance in high-rise buildings around Pieter Vreedeplein, building insurance, and waste disposal via Tilburg's local waste service. Prohibited are personal expenses such as individual internet connections with providers like Ziggo in the city, replacement of tenant-specific appliances, or commercial advertising in Tilburg homeowners' associations (VvEs).
The law (Article 7:257 of the Dutch Civil Code) stipulates that service charges must be reasonable and in line with market rates, without a profit margin for the landlord – a rule strictly enforced by the Rent Commission in North Brabant. Tenants in Tilburg do not bear costs for structural major maintenance, such as roof repairs on listed buildings in the city centre, which are the landlord's responsibility.
Invoices must be demonstrable and traceable to the rented property, with reference to local rates set by the Municipality of Tilburg. For VvE complexes in neighbourhoods like Heikant, additional rules apply via the deed of division, often based on consumption or surface area according to Tilburg standards.
Unlawful items, such as excessive costs for green maintenance under Tilburg's Garden City principles, can be refused and removed from the statement. The Rent Commission may impose fines for repeated violations, with advisory services available in Tilburg via Woonbedrijf or legal assistance on Doctor Deelenstraat.
As a tenant in Tilburg: always request detailed specifications and compare with market prices from local landlords such as Ymere or private owners. This article helps you distinguish between legitimate and unlawful charges, ensuring you do not pay unnecessarily in Tilburg's rental market.